Endorsement: Raghib Allie-Brennan for the 2nd

Published
12:00 am EDT, Thursday, November 3, 2016

A challenge in representing the 2nd District is that it covers four towns — most of Bethel and parts of Danbury, Newtown and Redding. The seat is open after state Rep. Dan Carter, a Republican who had it for three terms, decided to run for the U.S. Senate.

Raghib Allie-Brennan, a Democrat, can best represent the sprawling district and we endorse him in this race.

Will Duff, 48, the Republican, is known in Bethel where he has served in many offices, including the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Education and the Board of Tax Review. Duff is well intentioned. He tends to simplify issues, such as, “one of the biggest problems is people are leaving the state because property taxes are high and job security is low.”

Allie-Brennan, 25, was on the Bethel Inland Wetlands Commission, but gained his most experience as a legislative aid to two Congresswomen in Washington. Working in the minority party, he learned how to work in a bipartisan fashion. He does not intend to toe the party line.

He wants to see the state invest in the “younger generation” with incentives to stay, such as affordable housing, and with connections between the vocational-technical schools and business so that students are gaining the skills that local industry needs.

The issue that separates the two candidates the greatest is gun violence prevention. Duff called the state’s post-Sandy Hook legislation “draconian;” Allie-Brennan would be a “strong gun safety” advocate.

Allie-Brennan promises to bring “new energy and ideas to Hartford.” He should be given the chance.